Refrigerator car construction



Dec. 30, 1941. v. E. WEST 2,268,328

REFRIGERATOR CAR CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 25, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet l f v zzarE. West Dec. 30, 1941. v. E. WEST REFRIGERATOR CAR CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 25, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Figi Inventor,- Vz'ctorE 14495K Htorney Dec. 30, '1941. v. E. WEST REFRIGERATOR CAR CONSTRUCTION 3 sheets-sheet 5 Filed Jan. 25, 1940 'Innen for I/z'ci'ar E. West gimme 0W w -im wlw AKN.

Patented Dec. 30, 1941 2,268,328 REFRIGERATOR CAR CONSTRUCTION Victor E. West, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Standard Railway Devices Company, a corporation of Delaware Application January 25, 1940, Serial No. 315,467

16 Claims. (Cl. 62-17) This invention relates to refrigerator cars used to transport perishable commodities at a predetermined temperature. The essential features of a refrigerator car are an insulated body to prevent or retard ingress of heat during warm weather and egress of heat during cold weather and a cooling means and a heating means to be used during warm and cold weather respectively.

This invention applies particularly to cars in which the cooling means, preferably containers for water ice, eutectic ice, brine or dry ice, are disposed immediately below the roof of the car. The lading is supported in spaced relation to the floor by a foraminous rack. Flues, preferably associated with the side walls of the car,

communicate between the cooling means and the space under the oor rack to provide a path for the circulation of air. The path is from the cooling means downwardly through the aforementioned iiues, through the space under the floor rack, upwardly through the lading cornpartment thereby cooling the lading, and nally to the cooling means from where the cycle is repeated.

There are several types of refrigerant containers commonly used in a car of this type. The container may be foraminous when fresh water ice or eutectic ice is used, or partly foraminous and partly imperforate when it is desired to retain all, or part, of the salt and melted refrigerant. Wholly imperforate containers, or containers substantially imperforate with a relatively small number of small holes in the upper part thereof, may be provided when it is desired to retain the major part of the melted refrigerant or the brine which is formed by the melting of the refrigerant. Provision is tlrus provided for the overflow of refrigerant from the containers. A liquid is also formed by the condensation of moisture from the circulating air upon the cold surfaces of the refrigerant containers.

Drip pans are usually provided below the containers to catch the liquid from overflow or condensation, which drip pans are spaced from the bottom of the containers so as to form a passage for the now of air adjacent the bottom of the container. It is a common expedient to hinge such drip pans to the side wall of the car so that the drip pan may beA lowered for cleaning and repairing thereof and also for cleaning and repairing the refrigerant containers. Such an arrangement is shown in Kiesel Reissue Patent No. 21,147 of July 11, 1939. By hinging the drip pans near the center of the car, I provide an arrangement which allows greater clearance for the installation and removal of the refrigerant containers. Containers are usually raised to or lowered from position by movement in a substantially vertical direction. When the drip pan is hinged to the side wall and swung downwardly, the pan in its downward position protrudes into the lading compartment a suilicient distance to interfere with the lowering of the refrigerant container. Hinging the drip pan at 'the center overcomes this difculty.

I attach to the outer edge of the drip pan a depending part which, when the drip pan is in its upward or assembled position, forms an effective continuation of the side wall lining and when the drip pan is swung downwardly the opening formerly lled by this depending part is available for the insertion of a'hose such as is commonly used to ush out the side wall nues. Another ob-ject of my invention, therefore, is to facilitate the cleaning of the sidewall ilues.

It is a common practice to clean the drip pans frequently, both the upper and lower sides thereof. By hinging the drip pans at the center of the car, both sides are readily accessible for cleaning, whereas if hinged at the side wall, it would be possible to clean only the upper side when the drip pan is in the downward position.

Another object of the invention is to provide means associated with the drip pan to prevent liquid owing into certain parts of the side Wall flue where danger of leakage exists.

A further object of the invention is to form the entire drip pan in one piece, thereby eliminating joints and consequently, the danger of leakage which accompanies the existence of joints.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description by referring to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a transverse section of a refrigerator car embodying my invention. The drip pan is shown in three positions: at the left in the upward or assembled position; by solid lines at the right in the downwardly swung position; and by broken lines at the right in position to be swung downwardly.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the hinge means shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is an elevation view of the structure shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the outer end of the drip pan as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a section on line 5-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing another application of corrugations or ridges on the drip pans.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified form of drip pan.

The general parts of the refrigerator car shown are insulated roof 2; side walls 3; floor 4; hatches refrigerant containers 6; side wall flues 1; foraminous floor rackl 3 and space 5 between rack 3 and floor 4. A refrigerant container 6 is positioned directly below the roof 2 and adjacent a. side wall 3. A drip pan I2 is provided below the container 6 and a partition I4 is disposed in an upstanding position at the edge of the drip pan I2. The drip pan I2 and partition I4 cooperate with the roof 2 and side wall 3 to forn an enclosing structure II around the container 6, an air inlet opening I5 being provided by spacing the partition I4 from the roof 2. An air discharge opening I1 which leads to the flue 1 is formed by spacing the drip pan I2 from the wall 3. Cars of this type commonly have a row of refrigerant containers 6 near each side wall 3 and spaced apart at the center of the car.

The partitions I4 are also spaced apart to form a duct I6 which communicates between the lading compartment I8 and openings I5.

Air circulation is as follows: Air in the lading compartment I6 is warmed by contact with the lading and rises through the duct I6 to enter the enclosing structure I I throughthe air inlet opening I5. The air is cooled by contact with the refrigerant container 6 and falls by reason of its greater density through the discharge opening |1 and flue 1 to the space 9 whence it rises through the rack 3 to the lading compartment I6.

The side wall construction shown in Fig. 1 comprises inner 24 and outer 25 side plates; inner 21 and outer 28 side sills; outer posts 36 extending between and secured to the outer plate 25 and outer'sill 28 and inner posts 3| extending between and secured to the inner plate 24 and inner sill 21. A lining 33 is secured to the inner surface of the inner posts 3| and flue sheets 34 are interposed between.the lining 33 and the posts 3|. which flue sheets 34 have outwardly projecting panels 36 formed therein to provide the side wall flues 1. Metallic veneer sheets 31 are preferably secured to the lining 33 between the lining and the flue sheets 34. Spaced apart carlines 39 extend between opposite side walls 3 of the car and are preferably secured to the inner posts 3| by the brackets 40. The refrigerant containers 6 are supported from the carlines 39 by any suitable means, such as the means shown in Figs. 10 and 11 of co-pending application by C. D. Bonsall, Serial No. 286,138 filed July 24, 1939. 'I'he partitions I4 which form the center duct I6 are preferably supported by the carlines 39 and attached thereto by means of the angle shape brackets 4|.

There is preferably a drip pan I2 provided below each refrigerant container 6. Each drip pan I2 is preferably formed of a gridA structure comprising transversely extending frame members 43 preferably of inverted channel shape and longitudinal frame members 44 extending between and secured to the transverse frame members 43. Some of the longitudinal frame members 44 may also be of inverted channel shape, whereas others, such as the inner edge member 46 and the outer edge member 41, may be of any shape suitable for the purpose. The transversely extending frame members 43 are preferably turned downwardly to form the depending parts 45 disposed above the upper edge 53 of the side wall lining I3 in substantial alignment there-l with. The edge frame member 46 at the center of the car has hinge lugs 5| preferably formed of straps secured thereto in an outstanding position. Hinge brackets 53 are provided on each CII) partition I4 and a strap-like member 54 extends between and is pivoted to each hinge lug 5I and hinge bracket 53 to form a double jointed hinge 56. A metal sheathing 51 is preferably secured to the upper surface of the grid and extends downwardly over the depending parts 43 of the transverse frame members 43. The sheathing 51 also preferably extends a relatively small distance below the lower ends of the depending parts 46 of the transverse frame members to overlap the veneer sheet 31 and form a watertight joint therewith.

A reinforcing member 62 is preferably provided on the upper edge of the side wall lining 33, which member 62 has upstanding therefrom fingers 63 adapted to be inserted through the substantially horizontal flanges 65 at the lower ends of the depending parts 46 of the transverse frame members 43. An aperture is preferably provided through each finger 63 for the insertion of a cotter key 66 to lock the drip pan I2 in the assembled position. Apertures are also preferably provided through the hinge brackets 53 and strap-like members 54 for the insertion of pins 66 to further insure against accidental swinging of the drip pan I2.

The drip pan I2 is shown at the left of Fig. 1 in assembled position. When it is desired to swing the drip pan I2 downwardly it is necessary to remove the pins 63 and the cotter keys 66, swing the drip pan I2 upwardly until the lower part 69 of the sheathing 51 clears the upper part of the lining 33; swing the drip pan I2 towards the center of the car to position shown by the broken lines in Fig. 1 and then downwardly to the position shown by the solid lines at the right of Fig. 1.

As shown in Fig. 6, there is considerable danger of leakage at the juncture 13 of the flue sheets 34, veneer sheets 31 and inner side posts 3| if such juncture is permitted to be immersed in liquid. In order to direct liquid flowing over the drip pan I2 away from this part of the structure, I provide an upwardly projecting corrugation 14 in the drip pan adjacent the inner post 3|. The corrugation 14 is inclined downwardly toward the ues 16 on each side of the post 3| to divert liquid away from the post 3| and into such fiues 16. At the right of Fig. 6, I show a modified construction in which a separate member 11, such as the angle shown, is secured to the upper surface of the drip pan I2 to function in the same manner as the corrugation 14 to the left of Fig, 6.

It is common practice to provide door-ways through the side walls of the refrigerator car to provide doors adapted to close said doorways and to provide ilues in such doors which align with the ilues in the wall to form a path for the flow of air. However, there is considerable danger of leakage of liquid in such a structure and in order to prevent such leakage I provide a corrugation in the upper surface of the drip pan I2 adjacent the flue 6I through which flow of liquid is undesirable (See Fig. 7.) Liquid is thus diverted to the fiues 82. It is understood that a separate member 11, such as is shown in Fig. 6,

would be equally well adapted to the purpose of the corrugation 88 as shown in Fig. '1.

Fig. v8 shows a modification in which the partition .84 forming the center duct I 6 is formed integral with the drip pan 85 so as to eliminate the possibility of leakage between the partition 84 and the drip pan 85. The partition 84 is formed in this case by projecting the transversely extending frame members 81 of the drip pan 85 upwardly adjacent the center of the car and also extending the sheathing 88 of the drip pan upwardly a distance to correspond with the frame members. The connection of the drip pan 85 shown in Fig. 8 with the side wall is similar to that shown in Fig. 1. At the center of the car, however, the hinge lugs 90 are 'attached to the upstanding partition 84 and the hinge brackets 9| are attached to the lower sides of the carlines 39. The strap-like members 93, which are pivotally connected to the hinge lugs 90 and hinge brackets 9| are inclined downwardly and outwardly a slight amount so as to permit the necessary horizontal movement of the drip pan 85, which horizontal movement is necessary to disengage the depending part 94 from the side wall lining 33. After such disengagement, the drip pan 85 may be swung downwardly to a. depending position, as shown at the right of Fig. 8.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the preferred form of the invention, though it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, as it is obvious that various modifications thereof, w'lthin the scope of the claims, will occur to persons skilled in the art.

I claim:

l. In a refrigerator car having spaced apart walls and a roof, a vertical partition below said roof and spaced from one of said walls, a refrigerant container between said partition and the last mentioned wall, a drip pan below said container and hinge means supporting the drip pan from said partition arranged to permit down-v wardly swinging movement of said drip pan about a substantially horizontal axis,

2. In a refrigerator car having spaced apart walls and a roof, carlines extending between and secured to said walls below said roof, a refrigerant container below the roof and adjacent one of said walls, means associated with said carlines to support said container, a drip pan below said container having a partition upstanding therefrom remote from the last mentioned car wall and hinge means supporting the drip pan remote from the last mentioned car wall, said hinge means being associated with said carlines and arranged to permit downwardly swinging movement of said drip pan and partition about a substantially horizontal axis.

3. In a refrigerator car having spaced apart walls and a roof, a refrigerant container below the roof and adjacent one of said walls, a lining forming the inner boundary of said last mentioned car wall, a vertically extending flue within said last mentioned car wall adjacent said lining, a drip pan below said container in spaced relation thereto, hinge means supporting the drip pan remote from the last mentioned car wall arranged'to permit downwardly swinging movement of said drip pan about a substantially horizontal axis and a depending part of said drip pan adapted to align with said lining to form a continuation thereof.

4. In a refrigerator car having spaced apart walls and a roof, a refrigerant container below the roof and adjacent one of said walls, a lining spaced from a part of said last mentioned car wall to form a substantially vertical flue therebetween, a drip pan below said container in spaced relation thereto and hinge means supporting the drip pan remote from the last mentioned car wall, said hinge means arranged to permit downwardly swinging movement of said drip pan about a substantially horizontal axis and to permit lateral movement of said drip pan, said drip pan having a portion which extends downwardly into said flue in overlapping relation with said lining.

5. In a refrigerator car having spaced apart walls and a roof, a. refrigerant container below the roof and adjacent one of said walls, a lining spaced from a part of said last mentioned car wall to form Ia substantially vertical flue therebetween, a drip pan below said container in spaced relation thereto, hinge means supporting the drip pan remote from the last mentioned car wall, said hinge means arranged to permit downwardly swinging movement of said drip pan about a substantially horizontal axis and to permit lateral movement of said drip pan and a depending part of said drip pan ladapted to align with said lining. to form a continuation thereof, said p-art having a portion which extends downwardly into said flue in overlapping relation with said lining.

6. In a refrigerator car having spaced apart walls and a roof, carlines extending between and secured to said walls below said roof, a refrigerant container below the roof and adjacent one of said walls, means associated with said carlines to support said container, a lining spaced from a part of said last mentioned car wall to form a substantially vertical flue therebetween, a substantially vertical partition supported by said carlines on the opposite side of the container from said last mentioned car wall, a drip pan below said container in spaced relation thereto, hinge means supporting the drip pan from said partition, said hinge means comprising a member pivoted at its upper part to said partition and at its lower part to said drip pan, said drip pan having a portion which extends downwardly into said flue in overlapping relation with said lining.

7. In a refrigerator car having spaced apart walls and a roof, a refrigerant container below the roof and adjacent one of said walls, a lining spaced from a part of said last mentioned car wall to form a substantially vertical flue therebetween, a drip pan below said container in spaced relation thereto, hinge means supporting the drip pan remote from the last mentioned car wall arranged to permit downwardly swinging movement of said drip pan about a substantially horizontal axis and a depending part of said drip pan adapted to align with said lining to form a continuation thereof.

8. In a refrigerator car having spaced apart walls and a roof, a refrigerant container below the roof and adjacent one of said car walls, a vertically extending flue associated with the last mentioned car wall, a substantially vertical post within said iiue to divide said flue into a pair of sections, a drip pan below said container sloping downwardly toward the last mentioned wall to drain liquid from said container into said flue, said drip pan having an upwardly projecting ridge secured rigidly on the upper surface thereof adjacent said post.

9. In a refrigerator car having spaced apart walls and a roof, a refrigerant container below tically extending flue associated (with the last mentioned car wall, a substantially vertical post within said flue to divide said flue into a pair of sections, a drip pan below said container sloping downwardly'toward the last mentioned wall to drain liquid from said container into said nue, said drip pan having an upwardly projecting ridge secured rigidly on the upper surface thereof adjacent said post, said ridge sloping downwardly adjacent the ends thereof to drain liquid into said sections.

10. In a refrigerator car having spaced lapart walls and a roof, a refrigerant container below the roof and adjacent one of said car walls, a plurality of vertically extending fiues associated with the last mentioned car wall, a drip pan below said container sloping downwardly toward the last mentioned wall to drain liquid from said container into said iiues, said drip pan having an upwardly projecting ridge secured rigidly on the upper surface thereof adjacent certain of said flues. v

l1. In a refrigerator car having spaced apart walls and a roof, a refrigerant container below the roof and adjacent one of said car walls, a plurality of vertically extending flues associated with the last mentioned car wall, a drip pan below said container sloping downwardly toward the last mentioned wall to drain liquid from said container into said ues, said drip pan having an upwardly projecting ridge secured rigidly on the upper surface thereof adjacent certain of said i'lues, said ridge sloping downwardly adjacent the ends thereof to drain'liquid into others of said ilues.

12. In a refrigerator car having a wall Vand a roof, a refrigerant container below said roof and adjacent said wall, a flue associated with said wall, a drip pan disposed below said container and arranged to drain liquid from said container into said flue, and hinge means supporting the drip pan remote from said wall arranged to provide downward swinging movement of the drip pan about a substantially horizontal axis.

13. In a refrigerator car having a wall and a roof, a refrigerant container below said roof and adjacent said wall, a flue associated with said wall and separated from the interior of the car by a vertically extending lining, a drip pan disposed below said container and arranged with one edge overlying said lining, and hinge means supporting the drip pan remote from said wall arranged to provide downward swinging movement of the drip pan about a substantially hori-` zontal axis,

14.. In a refrigerator car having a lading compartment, spaced apart walls and a roof, a pair of spaced apart refrigerant containers below said roof, one adjacent each of said walls, a nue associated with each of said walls, a pair of spaced apart vertically extending partitions disposed between said containers to form a duct for flow of air from the lading compartment to the containers, a drip pan below each of said containers arranged to drain into the adjacent flue, and means to hinge each drip pan to one of said partitions, said means arranged to provide downwardly swinging movement of said drip pans about substantially horizontal axes.

15. In a refrigerator car having spaced apart walls and a roof, a refrigerant container below the roof and adjacent one of said car walls, a vertically extending flue associated with the last mentioned' car wall, a substantially vertical post within said flue to divide said flue into a pairof sections, a drip pan below said container sloping downwardly toward the last mentioned wall to drain liquid from said container into said flue, and upwardly projecting deilector means rigidly carried by said drip pan on the upper surface thereof adjacent said post.

16. In a refrigerator car having spaced Aapart walls and a roof, a refrigerant container below the roof and adjacent one of said car walls, a plurality of vertically extending nues associated with the last mentioned car wall, a drip pan below said container sloping downwardly toward the last mentioned. wall to drain liquid from said container into said flues, and upwardly projecting deflector means rigidly carried by said drip pan on the upper surface thereof adjacent certain of said iiues.

VICTOR E. WEST. 

